Flying-machine.



C. STIRIZ. FLYING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 14, 1909.

1 ,058,485. Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

Inventor A A tty CHARLES B'IIBIZ, OF. NEW YORK, N. Y.

' rmrmo-macnms.

Specification of mg... 1mm.

Patented Apr. 8, 191 3.

Application and m 14, 1909. f Serial No. 495,836.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Onaauzs Srnuz, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Manhattan in the city, county,- and State of New Yor have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to; tie accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to flying machines and more particularly to a c ass of heavier than air machines of the helicopter type.

The main object of my invention is to' provide a flying machine of the helicopter; type wherein he center of gravity of the machine will be low, wherein a sustaining aeroplane will be provided to check the de-i scent, of the mac tine when the power/is; shutoff, and wherein the entire structure: of the machine will be light in weight, while possessing the necessary degree of rigidity and strength.

A further object is to provide a machine,

, utilizing horizontal screws as a lifting power and a circumferentially adjustable, vertica propeller for imparting a horizontal componcnt of motion to tie flight of the ma-'. chine and direct-in its course. 7 A still further 'o 'ject is to provide a machine of this character embodying a driving and steerin pro eller wherein the pro eller may be a juste circumferentially o thelifting'propeller from the operators seat and T the operators seat ma be simultaneously adjusted so as to cause't e operator to always face the direction of traverse of the machine.

A still further object is to provide a machine wherein the various ropeller blades will be so sup orted' at tteir ends as to minimize the efiizcts of the centrifugal force developed through their rotation, and elimi-' nate possibility of accident to the propeller from this source.

A still further object is'to girovide'a aying machine having a circum erentially' adjustable drivin and steering propeller wherein thecarrier for the steering" or power propeller will carry a vertical lane movable therewith, the impact of whic 1 with mean will have the effect ofaiding in the steering operation and 'at the same time {counterbalance the weight of the steering) pro eller and its shaft so as to preserve asu s an ially perfect cqfuilibrium in the'mach1ne.'- .f: A still urther object is to provide'a flying machine having lifting propellers, and a 1 driving and steering propeller, which pro-' peller will be driven by enchained gears romthe same motive power.

A still further object is to provide a flying machine utilizing a turbine engine the rotor of which'will carry a set of propeller blades, thus combining simplicity of structure and lightness of weight, with high motive power.

A still further object is to provide a flymg machine havingan aerop one or parachute top adapted to retard the descent of g the machine, wherein shields adjacentto the ed e of said arachute or plane are pro- Vl( ed which siields may be lowered at the will of the operator to aid in the develo ment of the resistance to the descent of the machine. And a still further object is to provide a flying machine of the helicopter type employing a plane or parachute for retarding its descent, wherein the liftin propellers will be so positioned as to tlVOlt thepocketingof air by the parachute or aerolplane to an extent to lower the efiiciency of tie ropellers.

'The nvention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of "parts hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawin s:--Figure 1 is'a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, the lower frame being shown in vertical section so as to more fully disclose the motive power, and the upper frame being artly bro en away to more fully disclose tie internal structure of the machine, and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, the upper portion of the machine bein" broken away, to disclose a partial lan of tie lower frame, and the various liiiing and driving propeller mechanisms.

Like letters refer to like parts in both views. i

"In the embodiment of my invention, shown in the "drawings, a indicates a center shaft, on the upper part o f'which is an umbrella frame carrying an' aeroplane or parachute c. This frame may be made of steel tubing, bamboo, or other light strong material. Encircling the said to) is a tubular framed to which the ;ed es ot the top c are permanently secured. endant' from the tubular frame (I by means of hangers 1,- are a plurality of circular. frames f, f and f suitably braced from the center shaft a in the braces g. The frames f, f and f may loo loi

be made of steel tubing or other light strong material, the upper of these frames being merely an intermediate bracing frame, an

the lower frames constituting the power frames for bracing the lifting propellers and carrying the power and steering )ropeller. The vertical hangers a may be ma'e of any desired material possessing lightness and strength.

Mounted on the shaft a is a turbine engine II, to the rotor It of which is attached; a plurality of propeller vanes i, which vanes: are driven directly by said rotor.- .Carried by the said rotor is a bevel gear Loosely mounted on the shaft a and paral el with the: gear j is a hub 1.: carrying a bevel gear k', the said shaft a having mounted in fixed. bearings thereon intermediate bevel pinions l l meshing respectively with the gears j 10.; Carried by the hub k are a plurality of pro-; peller blades m having the same dimensions and the same pitch as the vanes 1'. The: transmission mechanism above referred tol will thus simultaneously drive the blades i m, in opposite directions, causin one set 0 blades to absorb the reaction of the other: and preventing the turning of the entire, structure with the operationof the motor.

The solution of aerial navigationb means of heavier than air machines of tie heli-E copter type is the development of hi h ve-% locity of the lifting ro ellers, and tie ap-' plication thereto 0 iiigi horse power withi proportionately small weight. This high; velocity develops great centrifu al force in the propeller lt1( es, and too viate this difficulty, I utilize the lower circular frames f as tracks within which the propeller- )lades rotate, providing suitable ant1-fric-; tion devices as the rollers n mounted on said f blades adjacent to the ed 0 thereof in a po-' sition to hear u on sai fl frame f or f This guiding an confining structure not only serves to avoid damage to the lift'in mechanism by reason of the centrifuga force developed but will also serve to prevent substantial vibrations. in, or vertical. detlection of the blades of tho liftin ropellers, thus avoiding other sources of ganger, or loss of power.

livotally mounted on the center shaft a is a brace 0 havin a stay rod 0' the 11 per end of which is a so ivotally mounte on the shaft a, which 4 race. 0 carries the radially slidable seat o'forthe o orator. About the shaft 0. is a steering whee p carryin the steering chains 72' by means of which mechanism the course of themachine may be directed from the operators seat. The steering chains p extend outwardly to the peri hery of .the frame f, throu h suitable eye ets or pulle s thereon i0 $iml ar eyelets or pulleys on tie frame f, and thence through movable pulleys p to the steering mechanism.

The exact manner of controlling the steming and controlling mechanism is immaterial, the showing of the drawings being merely a conventional one for the purpose of illustrating the mode of operation of the device.

Carried by the frame f is a circular true]; (1 on which is mounted by means of a suitable traction wheel a frame carrying an outer bearing for the shaft r upon which is 75 mounted the driving and steering propeller a. The inner end of the shaft. 1' is rotatably mounted in a bearing in the hub t, loosely mounted on the center shaft (1- below the hub In. Mounted on the center shaft. a is an idler bevel gear a, which is opposed to and parallel with a gear la" carried by the hub r. ll'leshing with the gears and 1/. res )eetively is a bevel gear 1" keyed to the shaft 1'.

Diumetricallv o )ositc the shaft 1' is a vertil l so al vane v carriet by the huh I. which vane is turned simultaneously with the shaft r of? the driving and stcerin pro )cller a and by the same mechanism. he fimction of this vane v is to connterlmlance the shaft 1- and the propeller s and aid in the turning of said shaft until the course of the vehicle has been changed.

Carried by the frame g is a circular rim q encircling the blades of the propeller s,

the ends of which blades carry anti-friction rollers 8' similar in their arran emcnt' and function to the anti-friction ro lers a car- {ricdby the blades of the lifting propellers.

Mounted in suitable brackets on the circular frame (1 are a plurality of spring rollers to carrying fabric curtains w which curtains are adapted to be lowered by means of cords w extending therefrom to the frame f and a point adjacent to the operators seat 0. By lowering these curtains, a large percenta e of air may be retained within the parac into top 0 thus aiding in retarding the descent of tie machine when the power is shut oil. Mounted in the lower end of the center shaft a is a frame 1 carrying a plu ralit-y of rollers for supporting the structure when it is on the ground or starting or landing )latfornn It wil be observed that in the structure herein descrilmd, the entire. weight is centered about the center shaft (1, and a suitable distance below the parachute or aeroplane top, thus not only avoiding the necessity for nicely balancing the heavier parts o of the machine, but bringing the center of gravity down sufficiently to lend stability thereto.

The 0 cration of the machine will be apparent rom the foregoing description and y reference to the accompanyin drawings, it being'merely necessary to describe the general features of the mode of operation of the device.

The controlling mechanism of the engine lite gine, I provide is not shown in the accompanying drawings, nor the details thereof relating to the storage of the explosive agent therefor, it being apparent that such may be applied to the machine by mere mechanical skill.

\Vhen power is developed by the engine,

the oppositely rotating propeller vanes z m will impart a directly vertical thrust to the entire machine, without rotating the entire machine by reason of the reaction of either propeller blade.' The sole function of the said propellers i m is to lift the machine, the simultaneous rotation of thepropeller 8 imparting that'horizontal component of mo tion necessary to give direction to the flight of the machine. The forward projection of the vanew diametrically opposite the axis of rotation of the propeller s will make this vane inoperative when the machine is describing a straight .course.

l/Vhen it'is desired to change the course of the machine, the operator by means of the hand wheel 11 and the tiller ropes p adjusts the frame 9, and with it the shaft 1, proeller s, and the vertical vane v circumferentially to the entire machine upon the track q. When these parts are being so turned, the vane 11 will serve to aid in turning them until the course of the machine has been changed, at which time it will again become inoperative except as a counterbalance. As the frame q rotates, it will take u the eyelets or pulleys p and move them with it, this structure permitting a wide range in the maneuvers of the machine. As the operator steers the machine, the bracket 0 carrying the seat 0 may be turned so as to cause the operator to always face the direction in which the machine is traveling.

It will be observed that the lifting propellers i m and the driving and steering propeller s are simultaneously operated from the same source and through a direct chain of gears, thus simplifyin the structure and Securing the desired lifting and driving ower.

It will be observed that when the speed of the engine is merely sufficient to sustain the weight of the machine in the air, the dri'vin mechanism will still impart a horizonta component of movement.

In descending, .the speed of the engine would ordinarily be reduced to a point where the. vertical thrust would be insuflicient to overcome gravity, but to avoid the necessity for the perfect control of the enthe parachute or aeroplane top; and the shades w to partially sustain the weight of the machine and its occupant, thus avoiding under all conditions, likelihood of falling of the machine through the total stoppage of the motive power.

In the machine constructed as above described, the entire machine will be in a normally balanced condition, the propellers i m I ponent of motion thereto.

serving merely to lift the machine and having no tendency to impart a horizontal com- It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in-the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope o the invention. 1

Having described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. In a flyingmachine, the combination with a seat carrying frame, of a parachute or aeroplane top for said frame, a lifting propelle'r mechanism having an axis of rotation passing through the center of said top, a driving propeller having an axis of rota tion at right angles to the axis of rotation of said lifting propeller mechanism a shaft therefor project-ing radially of the axisof rotation of said lifting propeller, and movable about an axis concentric therewith, means rotating same, and means whereby said driving propeller may be adjusted circumferentially of said lifting propeller.

mechanism whereby the course, or horizontal direction of the machine may be controlled.

2. In a flying machine, the c'ombination with a seat carrying frame of'a parachute or aeroplane top for said frame, extensible side curtains therefor, a lifting propeller mech anism having an axis. of rotation passing through the center of said top, a driving propeller having an axis of rotation at right angles to the axis of rotation of said lifting propeller jecting radially of the axis of rotation of said lift-ing propeller, and movable about an' axis concentric therewith, means rotating same, and means whereby said driving propeller may be adjusted circumferentially of mechanism a shaft therefor pro1 said lifting propeller mechanism whereby the course, or horizontal direction of the machine may be controlled.

3. In a flying machine, the combination of a central vertical shaft, a frame about the top thereof, a parachute or aeroplane top.

carried by said frame, mechanism arranged symmetrically about said central shaft and below said top, a driving propeller having an axis of rotation at rightangles -to the axis of rotation of said li ting propeller mechanism a shaft therefor projecting radially of the axis of rotation of said lifting propeller, and movable about an axis concentric therewith, means rotating same, and means whereby said driving. propeller may be adjusted circumferentia ly of said lifting propeller mechanism whereby the course, or horizontal direct-ion of .the machine may be controlled.

4. In a flying machine, the combination 7 of a centralvert-ical shaft, a frame about the top thereof, a parachute or aeroplane top a lifting propeller carried by said frame,a plurality of oppo sltelyrotatable-propellers, a rotary engine; p forming the hub of one of said propellers,

transmission gearin between s aid propel lers, a driving prope lerhaving a horizontal shaft mounted on a. hub rotatably mounted on said central shaft, transmission gearing between one of said propellers and saidv driving propeller shaft, and means whereby said driving propeller may be adjusted circumferentially of said central shaft to control the horizontal course of the machine.

5. In a flying machine, the combination of a centralvert-ical shaft, a frame-about the top thereof, a parachute or aeroplane top carried by said frame, a plurality of oppositely rotatable propellers, driving means for said propellers, symmetrically grouped about said vertical shaft, transmission gearing between said propellers, a driving propeller having-a horizontal shaft mounted on a hub rotatably 'mounted on said shaft, transmission gearing between one of said propellers and said driving propeller shaft, means whereby said driving propeller may be adjusted circumferent-ially of said central shaft to control the horizontal course of the machine, a bracket rotatably' mounted on said shaft, 'a swiveling support for said bracket, and a seat mounted on'said bracket, whereby the occupant of said seat may shift his position to conform to the adjustment of said driving propeller. V

6. In a flying machine, the combination of a central vertical shaft, a frame'about the top thereof, a parachute or aeroplane top carried by said Jfraine, a plurality of oppositely rotatable propellers, driving means for said propellers, symmetrically grouped about.

said vertical shaft, transmission gearing between said propellers, a driving propeller having ah'orizontal shaft mounted on a hub rotatably mounted on said shaft, transmission gearing between one of said propellers and said driving shaft, a forwardly projected, circumferentially adjustable aero-' top thereof, a parachute or aeroplane top carried by said frame, a plurality of oppositely rotatable propellers, a driving mechanismtfhe refor, symmetrically grouped about said central shaft, transmission gearing between said propellers, a driving propeller having a horizontal shaft mounted on a hub rotatably mounted on said shaft, transmission gearing between one of said propellersof said driving shaft, a circular track supported adjacent to said driving propeller, extending about said central shaft and concentric therewith, a frame carrying a bearing for said driving propeller shaft, movably mounted on said' track, and means whereby said frame may be moved circumferentially ofsaid central shaft to control the horizontal course of the machine.

. 8. In a flying machine, the combination of a central vertical shaft, a frame about the top thereof, a parachute or aeroplane top carried by said frame, a plurality of oppositely rotatable propellers, a driving mechanism therefor symmetrically grouped about said central shaft, transmissiongearing between said propellers, a driving propeller having a horizontal shaft mounted on a hub rotatably mounted-on said shaft, transmission gearing between one of said propellers of said driving shaft, a circular track supported adjacent to said driving propeller, extending about said central shaft and concentric therewith, a frame carrying'a bearing for said driving propeller shaft, movably-mounted on said track, means whereby said frame may be moved circumferentially of said central shaft to control the horizontal course of the machine, a steering wheel mounted on said central shaft, and tiller ropes extending from andlaboutfsaid wheel to the periphery of said track and about said track to said movable frame whereby said frame may be shifted circumferentially of said central shaft to control the horizontal course of the machine.

9. In a flying machine, a propeller mech- I anism'including therein a circular-frame, a rotary screw, and anti friction rollers mounted in and projecting from the ends of the vanes of said screw, and engaging said circular frame.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 8th day of May, 1909, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES STIRIZ.

Witnesses:

P. V,Wm-zmo,

P. FRANK SONNEK. 

